When Mom Is Emotionally Unstable. Seven Ways To Heal.
Mom. For many this word brings with it childhood memories of feeling safe while being tenderly tucked into bed, of band-aids and hugs when you scraped your knee, or wise advice given when you fell in love for the first time. You watched your mom and learned from her; she was committed to family,...
Seven Ways To Get Back To Being “In Love”
Being “in love.” I have heard so many people say, “I love her, but I’m not in love with her.” Or, “I don’t remember when it was I stopped loving my husband that way. But it’s gone.” Why does this happen to some couples and not others? Is it luck? Hard work? A choice?...
Should A Therapist Have Walked the Same Walk As You? A Therapist’s Perspective
Several months ago, I got a call from a potential client. She asked a question I’d never heard. “I need to know who you voted for in the election.” I’ve been a therapist for over 25 years. I’ve been asked if I was divorced, married, how old I was, whether or not I was...
5 Commitments To Yourself If You Love (Or Have Loved) A Narcissist
Narcissism. That word gets thrown around a good deal these days. So what is a true narcissist and what happens if you love someone who has these traits? What are the traits of narcissism? He displays a terribly inflated ego or sense of importance and seems to believe the world should revolve...
The Loss of Innocence: When Grandaddy Is A Sexual Abuser
Note: If you’ve been sexually abused, this post could trigger you. Please read with care. For the National Sexual Abuse Hotline, click here. In healthy families, a child learns that adults are there to protect you; they are engaging with you as you learn and laugh and discover the world....
The Parents Left Behind
A parent whose child has died has an excruciatingly painful look in their eyes. There are no words that can truly comfort — no experience to share that will ease their despair. All I’ve ever had to offer is my experience with others who’ve gone before them and a space where they...
Empty Nesting Season: Letting Go As You Redefine Parenthood
The summer of 2012. That’s when my only child left for college. And that’s the year I began dealing with empty nest and letting go. What a difference six years can make. I’d almost forgotten this past week was the beginning of the school year. I was headed to work and in a hurry....
How to Be Your Best Self During A Divorce
What’s a “good” divorce? Some might say it’s one that never happens. But it’s likely that, if you stay in your “best self,” even as you divorce, you and your children will benefit. Many of us get divorced. Sometimes the choice to divorce is mutual, and sometimes, it very...
When Are You Old?
When people around my grandmother would begin talking about how hard getting older was, she’d usually pipe up and say, “When I consider the alternative..,” her eyes twinkling a bit. Things are happening that make me more aware of getting older. For the first time the other day, I...
Four Common Mistakes In The Hard, Frustrating, Awesome, and Complicated Job Of Step-Parenting
Falling in love can be heaven on earth. When you find love “the second time around” is no different. Not only do you appreciate having found each other, you’ve hopefully learned about yourselves as individuals and as partners from past experiences. You’ve recognized...
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